South Korea: Arrest Warrant Sought for Yoon Over Martial Law Attempt
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Synopsis
On January 17, South Korean investigators sought an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol related to his failed martial law declaration. This unprecedented move in South Korea's history follows Yoon's detention and the gravity of charges against him, including insurrection and abuse of power.
Key Takeaways
- Yoon Suk Yeol faces serious charges including insurrection.
- First arrest warrant for a sitting president in South Korea.
- Yoon has refused questioning despite detention.
- Supporters staged protests outside the court.
- The court upheld Yoon's detention legality.
Seoul, Jan 17 (NationPress) On Friday, South Korean investigators requested a warrant to officially detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol due to his failed attempt to impose martial law, occurring 45 days after his late-night announcement on December 3.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) submitted the application to the Seoul Western District Court just two days after apprehending Yoon at his home and transferring him to a detention facility following an interrogation.
This marks the first occasion in South Korea's constitutional history where an arrest warrant has been sought for a sitting president.
The CIO charged Yoon with leading an insurrection and abuse of power, highlighting the seriousness of the alleged offenses and the potential for them to occur again as justification for the warrant.
Despite being detained, Yoon has declined to participate in questioning regarding his unsuccessful martial law attempt.
He submitted a request to the Seoul Central District Court for a review of the legality of his detention; however, the court rejected this challenge on Thursday evening, maintaining his custody, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Earlier that day, supporters of the imprisoned South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol organized overnight demonstrations outside the Seoul Western District Court, anticipating that investigators would seek a warrant for Yoon's formal arrest.
Supporters gathered outside the court late Thursday, linking arms to obstruct investigators from submitting documents requesting the warrant.
A man in his 20s was taken into custody on-site after pushing a court employee.
When police prevented the protesters from gathering outside the court, they relocated to a nearby park to continue their demonstration.
On Friday, a Seoul court also dismissed a petition contesting the detention of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol in the ongoing investigation into his failed martial law attempt, keeping him in custody just a day after he was detained for questioning.
The ruling by the Seoul Central District Court followed a petition filed by Yoon's legal team seeking a review of the legality of his detention.
The day before, investigators had detained Yoon for questioning regarding his December 3 martial law declaration after he ignored three summonses to appear for questioning in the investigation.
Thursday's court ruling dismissed claims from Yoon's team that the detention warrant against him, issued by the Seoul Western District Court, was invalid.
Yoon consistently contended that the case should have been managed by the Seoul Central District Court instead, as his lawyers asserted that prosecutors would eventually escalate the case there.
